Brake device for scaffold machines



June 6, 1950 J. HUCK BRAKE DEVICE FOR SCAFFOLD MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1948 INVENTOR. JW M Had" June 6, 1950 J. HUCK 2,510,340

BRAKE DEVICE FOR SCAFFOLD MACHINES Filed April 3, I l948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W s. @4 a}; @d

IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 6, 1950 BRAKE DEVICE FOR SCAFFOLD MACHINES Joseph Huck, .Tenafly, N. J assignor to The Patent Scaffolding Co., Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 3, 1948, Serial No. 18,766

1 Claim.

This invention relates to scaffold machines and more particularly to a brake used in such a machine.

The object of the invention is to obtain enhanced security in the operation of such machines, always attendant with the danger of giving under the weight applied.

The invention consists of a combination of a brake device with a scaffold machine frame, the brake device being located within the frame on the driving shaft and set into operation to perform its braking function when load is applied to the winding drum, when the handle is not Fig. l is a section of the upper part of a known scaffolding hoist, with the improvement embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the parts of Fig. 1, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a prospective view of the pinion member;

Fig. 4 is a partial central longitudinal section of Fig. 3; l V

Fig. 5 is one end view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is the other. end View of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cylindrical spring holding member; Fig. 8 is a partial central longitudinal section of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is one end view of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is another end view of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a partial central longitudinal section of the brake drum;

Fig. 12 is one end view of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is the other end view of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a side view of the spring;

Fig. 15 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 16 is a side view of one side of the detached handle, and

Fig. 1'7 is a view of the other side of the detached handle.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views. 56

Referring to the drawings, the frame ID has a shaft ll having a pin l3 engaged by a slot |2a of the handle l2. On the shaft II is mounted a pawl [4 controlled by a spring I 4a, controlledin turn by a handle [5, which pawl l4 engages a ratchet IE on a shaft 20 supported in the frame [0. The ratchet It forms a part of a drum 2|, the other side of which has a gear 22 mounted on the shaft 20 to rotate therewith. A cylindrical sleeve 23 connects a disk 24 having the ratchet 15 with the gear 22, and provides space for the wound cable. The gear 22 meshes with a pinion 25 on the shaft II. On the clockwise movement of the handle ill, the shaft II is rotated and the cable is wound, the pawl 14 riding loosely on the ratchet l6. These parts are known, excepting the particular pinion 25.

The improvement consists in combining with the shaft ll of a scaffold machine frame [0, a load brake for the purpose of adding greater security in the use of the scaffold machine.

This load brake consists of a novel pinion gear sleeve 30, having a bore 3| for the passage of the shaft I I, and having integrally at one end of the pinion 25, a helical portion 32, with segmental cutout 33, and'a shoulder 33a, (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6) the bore 3| extending through the helical portion 32. r I

Adjacent to this helical portion 32 is a cylindrical member 35having a bore 36 to fit over the shaft I I, and having at one end a collar 31 with one side 38 at the end of the member 35 in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft H. The other side 39 of the collar is of helical contour. The collar 31 has a cutout 43 forming a space between two adjacent ends of the collar 31. The other end of the member 35 has a flat surface M at right angles to the axis of the shaft H, and has a projection 42 of segmental or pie shape. A key way 43 is provided axially of the bore 36. (Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10.)

A brake drum 50 consists of a hollow sleeve 5|, open at one end 52, and having a ratchet 53 at its other end on a closing wall 54, having a bore 55 for the shaft ll (Figs. 11, 12 and 13). The ratchet 53 is engaged by a spring actuated pawl 53a on a shaft 53b supported by the frame l0. (Fig. 2.)

The brake spring 55 (Figs. 14 and 15) consists of a cylindrically wound band 51 with one end 58, cut off to form a surface radially disposed to the axis of the cylindrical band 51, with the other end 59, bent at right angles as to 60, to

form a projecting end disposed axially and in the convolution of the spring. The convolutions are spaced slightly apart. As the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 35 is less than the bore 50a. of the drum 50, and less than the bore of the convolutions of the spring 55, a. longitudinal space 56a is formed. The end 58 of the spring extends over the helical end of the member 35. The brake spring 56.has a slightly greater out side diameter thanthe bore of the brake drum 50, and said spring must be compressed radially to slip into the bore 50a of the brake drum5il.

The end 59 of the spring 56 extends into the space 40 of the collar 31.

A key piece 62, engagesthe key way 43 of the member 35, and an axial slot 63. of suitable size is disposed in the shaft II (Fig. 1), andisengaged by the key piece 52.

The cylindrical member 35 (Fig.6) has aconduit Ill for a screw II to regulate the key piece '62.

The drum 50 (Fig. 11) has a conduit 13 with a replaceable cap 14 for lubrication.

The operation is as follows:

.Handle I2 is rotated in a clockwise direction and in turnv rotates part..35.thr.u the shaft Ii.

The wall of thecutoutAl'l-in .memberI 35in turn presses against the end 59 .of the .brakespring In consequence, the .convolutions of the spring56 expand radiallyand press against the innersurface or bore 50a of the drum.5ll and thus engagethe brake drum 50 and. cause it also to rotate inzaclock-wise direction, pawl53ariding loosely on ratchet53 ofethe. brakedrum 50. The end-58 of the brake. spring 55 is forced against the shoulder 33aof the pinion ,gear..sleeve v30 which in turn rotates-therpiniongear .25. :The

rotation of -.the' pinion ,gear.25-.:drives the gear 22, thus winding the cable on-the sleeve 23 between parts 24 and22.

When handle I2 released when the pawl -.I4 is disengaged tension on-cable-tends to rotate the sleeve 23 and in turn the gear-22 in such a manner as to try to-rotate the pinoin gear 25 in a counterclockwise direction. The shoulder-33a of thepinion gear sleeve 311 is then forced against the end 58'o-f the brakespri-ngrw. The small initial radial compression of .thebrake spring53 caused by the brake spring 56 having a slightly larger outside diameter than the inside surface of the brake drum 50- produces friction between .the outside of the brakespring 5S;and-.-inside surface of the brake d-r-unr 50. zThisi-initial friction holds the brake-springBB from-slipping= on the inside surface ofthe brake-drum 53. :As the force on shoulder33a from the end 53,-of the brake spring-56 increases, the resulting convolutions of the brake spring 56 tend toexpanduthe brake spring 56 radially-and thus increasethefriction :between the outside surface :of thebrake spring -56-and'the inside surface ofthebrake-drum56 and thus lock'the inner surface-of the brake drum 5!! and the outer surfacesof the .brake spring-56 moresecurely togetherand prevent relative motion between: the two :parta The brake drum 50- is prevented from. rotating counterclockwise by: pawl 53w which enga r c 53 of the brake drum-.50. Thus the above described'sequence of action prevents the unwinding of cable from the scaffolding machine by the load .onthe cable alone and when no force is exerted on the handle.

Pawl' Mis disengaged from ratchet 15in order that the handle I2: may be-rotatedin a counterclockwise direction and the shaft H inturn may rotate the'member35; The wall of the cutout 40- in'member. 35in turnpresses against the end 59 of the brake spring 56 to 60. In consequence,

surface of the brake drum 50. ,The end 58 of the brake spring56 then tends-to pull away from the shoulder 33a of the pinion gear sleeve 35. Tenvsion on the cable then rotates the sleeve 23 and in turn the gear 22 in such a manner as to cause the piniongear 25 of the pinion gear sleeve 30 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and .keep .theshoulder33a of the pinion gear sleeve 30 in contact with the end 58 of the brake spring 53. In this manner the cable is unwound from the scaffolding machine.

.Projection 42 of the member 35 floats free in the segmental cutout 33 of the pinion gear sleeve 30 and does nottouch the .pinion gear sleeve 30 at any point. Shouldthe brake spring 55 break or become displaced'then"projection'42 would come in contact with one of the sides of the cutout '33 and transmit the load ofthegear 22 directly from the piniongear sleeve 30 to the member'35 instead'of thru'the brake sp'ring56 which has been displaced. It is an additional safety feature of the'brake.

In other words, when the handle I2 is turned clockwise, the shaft 'II rotates the member 35, which acting on the end 59 of the spring 55 causes the other end'58 of the spring 56, to retate the pinion member 30, and thus the 'gear'25, and the gear 22 of the Winding drumtowind'up the cable.

The friction of the spring 56 rotates theratchet 53, of the brake drum 5!] and the ratchet 53' slips under the pawl 53a. The projection of the member 35 does not do any work, since the projection 42 is a floating position in the space formedin the member 30 ibetwe'en'the parts 32 and 33. The distance of the space between $32 and 33 is so designed to provide for this floating action. Should, however, the spring 56 bre'ak,or Wear out, then the projection 42 comes intolplay against either s'urface32 or 33.

spring 56 is under no compression except the friction of a few convolutions, the other convolutions near the end 58 being free.

To move the handle I2 anticlockwise, the'manually operated pawl I4 is disengaged from'the ratchet I6, by pressing up the handle I5. The load and on gear 22, and .acts on the pinion 25 rotating member 30. "The e'nd'58 is loosened from the member 30. The spring is contracted, as the member 35 is rotated, and the brake member permits the coming down of the scaffold machine.

If, however, the hand is taken off the handle I2, then the brake device comes into play. The load is on the gear 22,. and it is rotated,.and thus rotates pinion- 25 and member 30. Ratchet 53 of the brake member 50 is engaged by the pawl 55a, and thus drum'5l is held in position against rotation. The end 58 abuts against the shoulder 33 of the member 35. An expansion of spring 56 takes place, as the shaft II moves the member 35, and a locking action ofthe spring 56 against the drum 54 takes place. This stops the descent of the scaffolding machine. The pawl I4 rides on the ratchet I6. If, however, the pawl I4 is taken out by a workman as is sometimes the case, then the brake is set-intooperation. The pawl I4 is, of course, an additional safety factor.

The shaft 25 has erilargements20a which are eccentrically disposed to the ends Zllb of the shaft 20, which ends rotate in bearings of the side frames Ill. The eccentric arrangement permits the gear 22 to be disengaged from the pinion 25, but as this forms no part of the invention claimed, it is not described in detail. The bushing 20c, collar 20d, and the bores of the gear 22 and the ratchet disk 24, are secured to each other by a tight fit, acting as one piece.

Wherever the reference F appears, it indicates the parts are joined by suitable welding.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

In a braking device for scaffold machines of the suspended type, a scaffold machine having a cable drum having two sides with a ratchet on one side and a gear in the other side, a displace- I able pawl engaging the ratchet, a pinion to engage the gear, a first shaft separate from the cable drum, and supporting the pawl and said pinion, and a handle for rotating the first shaft, the combination of a second shaft above the first shaft, a pawl on said second shaft, and a braking device surrounding said first shaft and including a sleeve having a bore of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the first shaft and keyed thereto, said sleeve having a collar with a space at one end and a projection at the other end, a collar on said pinion having a cut-out, the cut-out being larger than the projection to provide a free play of the projection in the cut-out, a spring of a plurality of flattened convolutions having one end engaging the spaced collar of the sleeve, and having its other end adapted to engage the pinion collar, and having an interior diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the sleeve to form a cylindrical space, and an enclosing cylindrical drum having an external ratchet engaged by the pawl on th second shaft preventing its rotation in one direction, and having an internal bore of a diameter slightly smaller than the external diameter of the spring when in its normal condition, said drum being rotatably mounted on the first shaft, whereby, when the handle is rotated clockwise, the pinion collar is rotated by its end of the spring, and its pinion actuates the cable drum to raise the same, and when the handle is rotated anti-clockwise, the cable drum ratchet pawl being disengaged, the weight of the cable drum rotates the pinion collar shoulder in a direction away from its end of the spring avoiding expansion of the spring against its surrounding brake drum, and when the handle is free and the weight of the cable drum seeks to descend, said cable drum ratchet pawl being disengaged, the spring is expanded and pressed against the brake drum and locks the shaft against rotation, and when the spring is inoperative, the projection of the sleeve engages the pinion collar making a positive connection, the brake drum being held against rotation by the pawl on the second shaft, when the cable drum tends to lower.

JOSEPH HUCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 536,584 Sedwick Mar. 26, 1895 697,393 Beck Apr. 8, 1902 933,866 Weickel et al Sept. 14, 1909 1,922,635 Post Aug. 15, 1933 2,267,037 Mersereau Dec. 23, 1941 2,434,480 Anderson Jan. 13, 1948 

